Browning A5 Police Special

bamaranger · June 14, 2012, 12:45 AM

Had an interesting A5 pass through my hands lately, from a bud to another bud who effected a repair and then back again.

Browning A5 with factory extended mag, factory extended forearm, 20 inch or so barrel, (I didn't measure) funky baked enamel finish, sling swivels.

As near as I can tell, it is correct and special order for South Africa police, circa 1960. Sorry, no pics, but a search will yield some photos I'm sure.

Never heard of the gun before!

Jim Watson · June 14, 2012, 12:54 AM

I remember when those were being sold in Shotgun News, but don't know anything of their history. The South African connection is even new to me.

The British shot at Communist insurgents in Malaysia in the 1950s with regular A5s. They had a special load for the purpose, buckshot with the nooks and crannies filled in with smaller shot. I guess the idea being that even a No 6 puncture might fester in the jungle and put a Red out of action.

bamaranger · June 14, 2012, 02:23 AM

Hey Jim,

The shotgun bore Century Arrms Int. import marks, and also an RA***type number on bolt and barrel. There was also a number on the butt llike a rack number.

The South Africa info was from a cursory on line search. Can you remember about when you saw them in SGN???

Dave McC · June 14, 2012, 05:50 AM

Rhodesian Police issue. I believe Denny Hansen has one.

rbernie · June 14, 2012, 06:48 AM

Max Popenker has a pic of one on his web site:

http://world.guns.ru/shotgun/be/browning-auto-5-e.html

Scrumbag · June 14, 2012, 07:11 AM

"They had a special load for the purpose, buckshot with the nooks and crannies filled in with smaller shot. I guess the idea being that even a No 6 puncture might fester in the jungle and put a Red out of action. "

This is known as "Rhodesian Jungle", the theory being the large buckshot will clear away the foliage whilst the smaller shot did the damage. (Those guys weren't convinced of the merits of buckshot as an anti personal round).

Believed by some to have been developed by the Rhodesian SAS on deployment in Malaya.

zippy13 · June 14, 2012, 09:52 AM

Rbernie, WOW, that's some serious fore-wood on that A-5. If I didn't know better, I'd suspect the pic was Photoshopped.

rbernie · June 14, 2012, 11:50 AM

Notice that the 'riot gun' version had a reinforcing crossbolt in the stock wrist, to make it a bit more robust under CQB conditions...

June 14, 2012, 12:45 AM	#1
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,295	Browning A5 Police Special Had an interesting A5 pass through my hands lately, from a bud to another bud who effected a repair and then back again. Browning A5 with factory extended mag, factory extended forearm, 20 inch or so barrel, (I didn't measure) funky baked enamel finish, sling swivels. As near as I can tell, it is correct and special order for South Africa police, circa 1960. Sorry, no pics, but a search will yield some photos I'm sure. Never heard of the gun before!

June 14, 2012, 02:23 AM	#3
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,295	when Hey Jim, The shotgun bore Century Arrms Int. import marks, and also an RA***type number on bolt and barrel. There was also a number on the butt llike a rack number. The South Africa info was from a cursory on line search. Can you remember about when you saw them in SGN???

June 14, 2012, 06:48 AM	#5
rbernie Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2004 Location: Plain Ol', TX Posts: 713	Max Popenker has a pic of one on his web site: http://world.guns.ru/shotgun/be/browning-auto-5-e.html __________________ -A conclusion is not a destination, it's simply a convenient place to stop thinking.- -Reading a thing doesn't automatically make it so; repeating it doesn't necessarily make it any truer.- -Every Texan should be a member of the Texas State Rifle Association. Last edited by rbernie; June 14, 2012 at 07:49 AM. Reason: added web link

June 14, 2012, 11:50 AM	#8
rbernie Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2004 Location: Plain Ol', TX Posts: 713	Notice that the 'riot gun' version had a reinforcing crossbolt in the stock wrist, to make it a bit more robust under CQB conditions... __________________ -A conclusion is not a destination, it's simply a convenient place to stop thinking.- -Reading a thing doesn't automatically make it so; repeating it doesn't necessarily make it any truer.- -Every Texan should be a member of the Texas State Rifle Association.

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June 14, 2012, 12:54 AM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,532	I remember when those were being sold in Shotgun News, but don't know anything of their history. The South African connection is even new to me. The British shot at Communist insurgents in Malaysia in the 1950s with regular A5s. They had a special load for the purpose, buckshot with the nooks and crannies filled in with smaller shot. I guess the idea being that even a No 6 puncture might fester in the jungle and put a Red out of action.

June 14, 2012, 05:50 AM	#4
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Rhodesian Police issue. I believe Denny Hansen has one.

June 14, 2012, 07:11 AM	#6
Scrumbag Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2012 Posts: 173	"They had a special load for the purpose, buckshot with the nooks and crannies filled in with smaller shot. I guess the idea being that even a No 6 puncture might fester in the jungle and put a Red out of action. " This is known as "Rhodesian Jungle", the theory being the large buckshot will clear away the foliage whilst the smaller shot did the damage. (Those guys weren't convinced of the merits of buckshot as an anti personal round). Believed by some to have been developed by the Rhodesian SAS on deployment in Malaya.

June 14, 2012, 09:52 AM	#7
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Rbernie, WOW, that's some serious fore-wood on that A-5. If I didn't know better, I'd suspect the pic was Photoshopped.